Bam Aquino to attempt Senate seat anew

MANILA, Philippines — Former Sen. Bam Aquino made his attempt for a Senate comeback official after filing his certificate of candidacy on Monday, October 7.

Aquino, a cousin and namesake of the late President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, lost his reelection campaign as a member of the opposition blog during the politically dominant Duterte administration in 2019.

He is running under the banner of Katipunan ng Mga Nagkakaisang Pilipino, a party he now chairs, following his departure from the Liberal Party last May.

Despite his exit from the Liberal Party, Aquino remains on the side of the opposition, alongside former senator Kiko Pangilinan and human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, who recently signed up with progressive party-list group Akbayan.

Legislative record. Aquino served as a senator from 2013 to 2019, where he chaired the Senate Committee on Science and Technology from 2016 to 2019. During his term, he was actively involved in various Senate committees, focusing on issues related to education, entrepreneurship and youth empowerment.

Some of his notable legislative work include the passage of the:

Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which provides free tuition in state universities and colleges Go Negosyo Act, which encourages the development of micro, small and medium enterprises.

Previous bids. Aquino ran under the opposition slate “Otso Diretso,” alongside Diokno, former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, and other independent candidates.

Despite placing 14th overall with over 14 million votes—more than any other candidate on the slate—he fell short of securing a spot in the “Magic 12.”

Aquino initially considered another Senate run in the 2022 elections but chose instead to serve as the campaign manager for then-Vice President Leni Robredo’s presidential campaign.

He described this role as a "crucial and formidable task" that required his full attention. Despite their efforts, Robredo finished second to now-President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the official count.

Political re-emergence

If he makes it to the 2025 Senate race's top 12, Aquino's new term marks the return of a famous surname in Philippine politics.

Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, his uncle and another namesake, was a martyred opposition senator during the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the father of the current president.

His aunt, Corazon "Cory" Aquino, served as president after a successful People Power Revolution that ousted the Marcos family from the seat of power in 1986.